Hinge and gate construction



July 7, 1953 E. GILLETTE.

HINGE AND GATE CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec zNn-:Nron

' BY l y ,47'ra/v5rs.

Patented July 7, 1953 UNITED STATES iATENT OFFICE f1 2,644,258 f *I I-HNGE AND GATE CONSTRUCTION Edwin Gillette, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 11, 1950, Serial No. 200,230

The present invention relates to an improved gate construction particularly useful with large, heavy, bulky gates.

In general the present invention contemplates a gate con-struction in which a lcaster is mounted on the free end of the gate, with the caster at all times engaging the pavement when and as the gate is being moved to open and closed -positions.

Usually, when a caster is placed on the free end of a gate, the caster touches only the high spots of the pavement and does not follow the dips or unevenness inthe pavement, with the result that at some time all of the gate is supported on the 'hinge structure instead of being partially supported on the pavement or ground as intended. I

The present invention provides improved means wherein at all times the caster follows the uneven portions of the ground or pavement.

It is therefore an object of this invention toprovide a gate supporting structure of this character for producing the aforementioned result.

A specific object of this invention is to provide improved supporting means for a gate which is characterized by the fact that the gate itself is prevented from wobbling yet is allowed to follow unevenness in the ground, using a mounting structure which is characterized by its simplicity and inexpensive nature. y

Another obj-ect of this invention is to provide an improved hinge structure which incorporates generally an elongated channel iron with means for hinging the same so that it may swing about a generally vertical axis, the channel iron being adapted to receive a pivot pin through aligned apertured portions in the parallel extending plates of suc'h channel iron.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved supporting means for a gate having caster means mounted on the free end of such gate, the invention being characterized by theV fact that Such supporting means allows the caster to always contact the pavement or ground over which the gate is swung regardless of whether or not such pavement or ground may be inclined with respect to the horizontal plane.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken i claims. (ol. sri-sz) in connection with the accompanyingy drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation ofv a gate incorporating the novel mounting stri'icture'em-- bodying features of the present inventionga'lpart of t'he mounting structure being fragmented to show internal structure and the gate beingshown in closed position; i Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a perspective View showing the gate itself detached from its mounting structure,| al= though this gure does show the mounting pin. In the present arrangement,l a. channel iron I0 of special dimensions is hinged at two places;

in the conventional manner, by meansof con-1? ventional two-part hinges I I, I2, one part of Such hinges II, I2 being imbedded in thel masonry structure I4, for example, or bolted to va wooden support, and the other part of such hinges Il; I2 being welded to the channel iron I0. A single pivot pin I5 passes through an apertured portion I 6A in an end of the wooden gate i6 soI that this gate is at all times Vfree to pivot aboutthe axis; of this pin I5 whereby at all times a part of the weight of the gate is supported on thev caster I'I afxed to the lower portion of the free end of the gate.v I

Preferably a metal insert I8 in the form of a tube or bushing aligns theapertured portion ISA of the gate I6 to prevent undue wear.

The pivot pin I5 actually comprises a bolt Yor rivet with heads on opposite ends thereof engaging the parallel extending plates of the channel iron I0 to prevent accidental removal of the pivot pin I5.

Preferably the inner end IGB ofthe gate IB is Vformed arcuate in shape to provide adequate clearance for pivoted movement about the` pin I5. In actualpractice, for gates having length in the order of 12 feet, the pin I5 may comprisea 1%; inch bolt and the spacing between the parallel plates of the channel iron I0 may, for example,y be 1% inches while preferably thewidthsof such parallel plates are in the orderof 12 inchesjto provide extended surfaces against which the inner gate may abut when and as it tends to sway about, for example, a horizontal axis passing through the axis of the pivot pin I5.

It is observed that the gate mounting structure is relatively simple, of rather pleasing ap pearance considering the function which it achieves, such pleasing appearance being imparted to a large extent by the fact that the channel iron I0 is effectively 'a box around the inner end of the gate element and of equal importance is the fact that the channel iron serves as a protective element to prevent extraneous objects from becoming lodged between the gate and its mounting to thereby minimize the likelihood of trouble in use of the gate `and further such box construction prevents to a large extent accidental injuries to persons or animals.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the. appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a gate construction of the character described, a gate element', an elongated channel iron extending vertically substantially the full 'height of said gate element with the inner end of thel gate element disposed in said channel iron, hinge --means mounted on said channel iron,` a single pivot pin passing through alined apertured portions in the parallel extended plates ofv said channel iron and an apertured portion in said gate element, said pivot pin extending generally horizontally, and a caster mounted on the-free end of said gate element, the inner walls of `said channel member being spaced from, said inner gate end to permit pivoting of said gate about said pivot pin with said extended plates serving as a stop and preventing undue pivoting movement of said gate element about an axis which ypasses radially through said pivot pin.

2 In a gate construction of the character described, a gate element, a caster mounted on thefree end of said gate element, and means mounted near the hinged end of said gate element permitting the caster to always follow unevenness in the ground or pavement, said means comprising a channel iron embracing the inner end of said gate element with a single pivot pin mounted on said channel iron and passing through apertured portions in said channel iron and said gate element, the inner walls ofl said channel iron being spaced from said gateend to permit pivoting of said gate about said pivot pin, with the parallel extending plates of said channel iron serving asv a stop and preventing undue pivoting movement of said gate element about an axis which passes radially through said pivot 3.7In a gate construction of the character described, a gate element, a caster mounted on the Hee end of said gate element, a channel iron, means pivotally supporting said channel iron for movement about generally a vertical axis, the inner end of said gate element being embraced by said channel iron, and a pivot pin mounted on said` channel iron and extending through the apertured portions of the channel iron and said gate element, the inner -edge of said gate element being generally arcuate in shape and spaced from snugly confined within said channel iron, a single pivot pin passing through opposite plates of said channel iron and through an apertured portion in said gate element, said channel iron having relativelylarge extended plates snugly embracing the inner edge of said gate element to prevent swaying of said gate element about an axis passing generally parallel to the axis of said gate element, and the 'inner edge of said gate element being generally arcuate to provide clearance whereby said inner end may pivot within said channel iron about the axis of said pivot pin.

` 5. In a gate structure, the subcombination comprising an elongated channel iron, means on said channel iron adapting the same for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, which corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the channel iron, and means adapting said channel iron to support a gate for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis with the inner walls of said channel iron spaced from said gate to permit pivotal movement of said gate about the last mentioned means andY with the parallel spaced elementfof said channel iron serving as stops for preventing undue swaying of said gate about an axis which passes radially through said horizontal axis, about which said gate is pivoted.

6. In a gate structure, the subcomb-ination comprising an elongated channel member, spaced hinge means for maintaining the longitudinal axis of said channel member generally vertical and for pivoting said channelY member about a Vertical axis parallel to said longitudinal axis, and a pivot pin passing through opposed plates of said. channel member.

7. The arrangement set forth in claim 6 in which said pivot pin passes through said plates ata point substantially midway between the extremities of said channel member.

EDWIN GILLETTE.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Gessler Jan. 25, 1949 

